Search ends for pilot David Ibbotson as body found in sunken plane confirmed as Emiliano Sala

An operation to recover the aircraft from the crash involving David Ibbotson and Cardiff City player Emiliano Sala has ended but the footballer's family have urged authorities to keep searching for the North Lincolnshire pilot

The search for missing pilot David Ibbotson (right) has ended after a body found in the wreckage of a plane in the English Channel was identified as Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala

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The official search for missing North Lincolnshire pilot David Ibbotson has now come to an end, with fears his body may never be found.

But the family of Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala, whose body was discovered in the wreckage of a plane which disappeared over the English Channel, have urged authorities to continue trying to find Mr Ibbotson.

The private pilot, from Crowle, was at the controls of a Piper Pa-46 Mailbu which was carrying Argentinian striker Sala from the French city of Nantes when the crash happened on Monday, January 21.

The wreckage of the aircraft was discovered 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey after a private search operation started on Sunday, February 3 and a body found within it has now been identified as 28-year-old Sala.

It is believed Mr Ibbotson was either thrown clear of the aircraft when it struck the sea or when it sank in deep water.

Investigators recovered Sala's body on Wednesday but have ended their attempts to recover the aircraft wreckage, which remains 67 metres underwater, because of poor weather.

Mr Ibbotson remains officially missing, although he is believed to have also died in the accident and dozens of tributes to him have been left at a memorial in Crowle.

Tributes have been placed in Crowle Market Place in memory of David Ibbotson (Image: David Haber/Scunthorpe Live)

A Sala family statement included a call for efforts to continue to find Mr Ibbotson's body.

The statement read: "It is with infinite sadness that we confirm the identity of Emiliano's body.

"We would like to thank you for all your signs of affection and support in what is the most painful time of our lives.

"Seeing the whole world mobilised to support us in our research has been an infinitely precious help. Thanks to you, we are now able to mourn our son, our brother.

"On this Friday morning, our thoughts go to David Ibbotson and his family, hoping that the authorities will do their best to find him."

The body of Argentinian striker Sala was brought to Portland, Dorset, by the Geo Ocean III boat, and taken on a stretcher to an ambulance, before being transferred to the coroner.

The Geo Ocean III specialist search vessel docked in Portland, Dorset, after it brought back the body of Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala which was recovered from the wreckage of an aircraft in the English Channel (Image: PA)

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed in a statement that it had taken the decision to bring the overall operation to a close.

It said: "In challenging conditions, the AAIB and its specialist contractors successfully recovered the body previously seen amidst the wreckage. The operation was carried out in as dignified a way as possible and the families were kept informed of progress.

"Unfortunately, attempts to recover the aircraft wreckage were unsuccessful before poor weather conditions forced us to return the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to the ship.

"The weather forecast is poor for the foreseeable future and so the difficult decision was taken to bring the overall operation to a close.

"Although it was not possible to recover the aircraft, the extensive video record captured by the ROV is expected to provide valuable evidence for our safety investigation."

Pilot David Ibbotson, left, and Emiliano Sala, right

Dorset Police confirmed last night that the body found within the aircraft wreckage had been positively identified as Sala, who had completed a £15 million move from Nantes to Cardiff three days before the crash and had returned to France to say his farewells to former team-mates.

A statement from the force said: "The body brought to Portland Port has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala.

"The families of Mr Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been updated with this news and will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

"HM Coroner will continue to investigate the circumstances of this death supported by Dorset Police.

"On Monday, January 21 a plane carrying both men was flying from Nantes to Cardiff when it lost contact with Air Traffic Control, north of Guernsey.

"Sadly a search and rescue operation was unsuccessful in locating the plane and the two occupants. Subsequently AAIB and privately funded search teams were deployed to the relevant area.

An image released by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch showing the rear left side of the fuselage, including part of the aircraft registration, in the wreckage of the plane which was carrying Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson (Image: AAIB/PA)

Following the tragic news, the footballer's sister Romina posted a moving tribute to her brother on social media.

Writing on Instagram, she said: "Your soul in my soul will shine forever, thus illuminating the time of my existence. I love you."

Family, friends, residents and businesses in Crowle have left tributes to Mr Ibbotson, an experienced private pilot who worked as a gas engineer, have been left around a tree in the town's Market Place.

Floral tributes, candles and a Cardiff City scarf are among the items which have been left, with a message from Mr Ibbotson's daughter Vicki describing him as "the best dad anybody could wish for".

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She wrote: "Daddio, words cannot describe how much I am going to miss you. You are the best dad anybody could wish for and I will love you always."

Mr Ibbotson's sister Helen Kapatysulias wrote: "I have so many memories of you, mine is of you when you were coming home from school, you used to pick me up and carry me home. I will lock these memories in my heart forever."

Another message read: "All I would like is to see your face, smiling, cheekily, again. I know you're safe wherever you are. I pray that one day I will see you again, my gentle Big Brother.